Australian Deputy Prime Minister wears Rotherham Titans colours in high-profile shirt swap
ROTHERHAM Titans got some world-wide exposure this week thanks to outgoing Defence Secretary John Healey.
The Rotherham MP handed a Titans shirt to Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles in one of his last acts before his shock resignation over military spending plans.
In exchange Mr Marles gave Mr Healey a shirt from Geelong Cats, the Australian rules football team, before the two went on a morning run in London.
Mr Healey said: "I was proud to give Richard a Rotherham Titans team shirt to add to the Rotherham United shirt I gave him last time he was on British soil, and to wear his local Geelong Cats top.”
The swap represented the deep friendship between the two nations and it took place before their AUKMIN (Australia-UK Ministerial Consultation) meetings.
The images got plenty of thumbs-up from Titans fans on social media.
They also gave priceless publicity and exposure to a club which is still on a buzz from winning promotion to the Championship, the second tier of English rugby.
As widely reported, Mr Healey stepped down from his role yesterday, saying a proposed settlement for the defence investment plan (DIP) "falls well short of what is required for defence and the country at this dangerous time".